Nancy Cleveland went to Jacksonville City Hall Tuesday night to hear what the Jacksonville City Council candidates had to say.

The Jacksonville resident listened for nearly 90 minutes as candidates answered questions on a variety of issues facing the city during Forum Onslow.

Three candidates for the two at large seats and two candidates for the one Ward 2 seat answered approximately 10 questions on topics ranging from what qualifies them for a seat on the council, the area’s biggest assets and deficiencies, what can be done to improve relations between the city and county, and their visions of downtown Jacksonville.

Panelists from the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce prepared several questions in advance and the audience also had the opportunity to submit questions via cards in the council chambers, where the forum was held, Twitter and email. Daily News Publisher and Executive Editor Elliott Potter was the event’s moderator.

Several candidates said the area’s biggest asset and deficiency is the base.

“Our greatest asset is the military but we have almost complete dependence on them,” said Randy Thomas, at large candidate and incumbent.

Bob Warden, who is also an incumbent competing for an at large seat, attributed the area’s ability to weather the recession to the base, which provided work for area residents through construction and other opportunities.

“Our greatest weakness is our lack of work — manufacturing work. We’ve got a lot of service work here available. We’ve got a lot of opportunities on the base. I don’t know what that future is going to hold … we may see some of those opportunities go away. I would like to see us a little less dependent on the base but it’ll take time,” Warden said.

According to Jerry Bittner, who is running to retain his seat for Ward 2, the area’s disadvantage is a “lack of diversified economy” which would entice youth to return after college.

Alex Eatman, a candidate in the at large race, said that the area has a “strong industry of service.”

“People in Jacksonville are more geared toward that type of thing,” he said, explaining that Jacksonville is a “very service oriented and very giving kind of community.”

Another topic of discussion was relations between the city and Onslow County and what could be done to improve cooperation between the two.

According to Warden, city officials are “willing and ready to cooperate with the county on any project that’s a win-win for both parties.”

“That relationship with the county could always be better … but a good public servant does not let personalities, does not let issues, stand in the way of … the No. 1 primary goal,” he said, explaining the goal is to best serve the tax payers.

Bob Williams, who is competing in the Ward 2 race, said he doesn’t “see any good cooperation between the two from an outsiders’ standpoint.”

“The county and the city need to work together … our citizens of Jacksonville are part of the county. There’s no reason why we can’t work together …,” Williams said, explaining that the two entities could work together to improve downtown Jacksonville and Burton Park.

Thomas said the two entities are similar to family.

“We’re all in this together. It’s much like a family, you don’t get to choose a family except your spouse,” he said. “I’m hopeful that through outreach and cooperation, we can improve those relations.”

The candidates also discussed their visions for improving the downtown Jacksonville.

Bittner said the council has made “great end roads” in what’s been accomplished downtown through building homes, demolishing buildings and improving Riverwalk Park and will continue to do so.

According to Warden, the hope is that future development will be “because of the good start that we got.”

Thomas said that recent improvements have done a great deal.

“I think downtown is a lot like a diamond in the rough. It’s got all the components to be successful,” he said.

Eatman feels that the council should not have a vision for the downtown area and that the vision should be “whatever the property owners would like to have done with it.”

“But as far as the city trying to mold any part of town into a specific direction, I would not want to see that happen,” he said.

Williams also felt that citizens should be the proponents of the downtown’s future.

“I think the citizens of Jacksonville should have a vision for downtown and they should bring that to us,” he said.

Bittner used one of his rebuttal cards, of which each candidate had two, to explain that the downtown master plan was created by community planning groups consisting of citizens, not the council.

Candidates also discussed whether or not the city and ONWASA compete for customers and if it’s a waste of tax payer dollars, their thoughts on government spending and municipal budgets, if Sturgeon City is worth the resources being spent on it and what the council can do to help owners keep their investments.

According to Williams, not much should be done since government funds should not be used for private enterprise but he doesn’t think that continuing to build houses in the area will help the area see less foreclosures or empty residences.

Eatman, like Williams, said that government shouldn’t have its hands in investments.

“You shouldn’t expect the government to bail you out of investments,” he said.

Bittner feels that homeowners will be helped if the economy is stimulated by bringing in industry.

“We can do our best by keeping taxes as low as possible,” he said.

Warden doesn’t think that the city “should be telling folks that they should or should not be building.”

Thomas said that builders found Onslow County attractive in recent years due to the troop build up and resulting work, while other parts of the state suffered. He said that “you can only do so much” and that expenses should be kept low so Jacksonville remains a nice place to live.

When the forum was over, Cleveland said it helped her get ready for voting in November and recommended residents watch the forum on G-10 when it replays. The forum can also be viewed on the city’s website at jacksonvillenc.gov.

The Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce plans to organize a future forum on the school bond but a date has not been determined.

Oct. 11 is the final day to register for the Nov. 5 municipal election.

Jerome Willingham, who is running unopposed for Ward 1, did not attend the forum.

Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at amanda.hickey@jdnews.com.